Apparatus for supporting receptacles for transposition

Abstract

In an arrangement of receptacles for groups of dental instruments or other devices where one group is preferably adjacent a work station for a right-handed operator and the other group is preferably adjacent a station for a left-handed operator, the receptacles are pivotally mounted at opposite ends of a rotatable link such that pivoting the receptacles reversely and rotating the link will transpose the left receptacle to the right and the right receptacle to the left.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for supporting receptacle means, comprising: articulated arm means on which said link means is supported for rotation, link means having a first rotational axis, and receptacle means, respectively pivotally connected to said link means on opposite sides of said first axis, whereby said receptacle means may be transposed from one side to the other of a plane containing said first axis by selectively pivoting said receptacle means about their axes and revolving said arm means about its axis,   container means for being supported on said receptacle means, said container means being constructed and arranged for being interposed between said receptacle means when said receptacle means are pivoted to a predetermined position, and   means for engaging said container means with at least one of said receptacle means.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as in claim 1 including: other arm means including means for pivotally connecting said other arm means to said articulated arm means and container means supported on said other arm means.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said container means comprises a tray. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein: said other arm means comprises arm members slidably engaged with each other, said container means being mounted on one of said members whereby said container means may be advanced and retracted relative to pivotal connecting means.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said container means comprises a tray. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for supporting receptacle means, comprising: articulated arm means on which said link means is supported for rotation, link means having a first rotational axis, and receptacle means, respectively pivotally connected to said link means on opposite sides of said first axis, whereby said receptacle means may be transposed from one side to the other of a plane containing said first axis by selectively pivoting said receptacle means about their axes and revolving said arm means about its axis,   container means constructed and arranged for being supported jointly by and between said receptacle means when said receptacle means are pivoted relative to each other at a predetermined angle.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said container means is a tray having opposite margins diverging from each other, each of said margins having at least one hole, and said receptacle means each having at least one corresponding pin for engaging in said holes, respectively, to thereby enable interengagement of said receptacle means and said tray. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus for supporting receptacles for selected medical and dental devices to, among other things, enable convenient access to said devices by right- and left-handed operators, said apparatus comprising: link means rotatable about a first axis,   a plurality of receptacle means respectively constructed and arranged for holding devices of different kinds,   connecting means respectively joined with said receptacle means and pivotally connected to said link means for pivoting about axes, respectively, which are radially displaced from and substantially parallel to said first axis, whereby pivoting said receptacle means on said link means about their respective axes through a substantial angle and revolving said link means and said receptacle means through a substantial angle will cause said receptacle means to be transposed from one side to another of said first axis,   tray means comprising sides which diverge from each other at an included angle,   means for engaging said tray means with one and the other of said receptacle means when said receptacle means are pivoted to diverge at said angle from said first axis, such that said tray means may be supported between said receptacle means for either transposition thereof.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: said receptacle means each have substantially equal widths and said radial displacements of each of said pivot axes are equal and said axes align substantially with the center of said receptacle means respectively, whereby said receptacles may be symmetrically disposed about said first axis and in contact with each other for either transposition.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: said receptacle means each have front and rear ends and spaced apart sides with at least a portion of one side of each of said receptacles being parallel to a portion of another side of the same receptacle, and each of said pivot axes being displaced an equal distance from said first axis, so that said receptacle sides may be placed in parallel contacting relationship with each other when transposed to either side of said first axis.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: said receptacle means each have front and rear ends and spaced apart sides, and   instrumentalities of one kind projecting from said front end of one receptacle and instrumentalities of another kind projecting from said front end of the other receptacle for being grasped by an operator.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus as in claim 8 including: first arm means on which said link means is supported for rotation about said first axis,   second arm means pivotally connected to said first arm means for swinging about an axis that is substantially parallel to said first axis,   tray means mounted proximate to an end of said second arm means, said tray means being swingable with said second arm means in a plane other than a plane occupied by said receptacle means for any pivoted position of said receptacle means.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: said receptacle means each have a rear end adjacent said pivot axes and a front end more remote from said axes,   at least one of said receptacle means having extending from its front end an instrument accessible to an operator,   plunger means extending from said front end adjacent said instrument, said plunger means being biased in one direction and being movable in opposition to said bias in another direction to activate said instrument,   plate means and means at said front end for supporting said plate means for rocking, said plunger means being in contact relation with said plate means, whereby a hand of an operator may grasp said instrument and rock said plate means simultaneously to activte said instrument as it is withdrawn.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: said receptacle means each have a rear end adjacent said pivot axes and a front end more remote from said axes,   at least one of said receptacle means having a plurality of withdrawable instruments extending therefrom and manually accessible to an operator,   a plurality of plunger means corresponding in number with said instruments in said one receptacle and each extending from said front end adjacent the instrument to which it relates, said plunger means each being biased in one direction and movable in opposition to said bias in another direction to activate a corresponding instrument,   plate means and means at said front end for supporting said plate means for rocking in various directions, said plunger means being in contact relation with said plate means and normally biasing it against rocking, whereby a hand of an operator may grasp an instrument and simultaneously rock said plate means toward a plunger means associated therewith to thereby activate only the instrument that is grasped.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus in claim 8 including: support means and bearing means supporting said link means for rotation on said support means about said first axis said bearing means having an opening coincident with said first axis,   a plurality of elongated flexible means for selectively cooperating with devices in said receptacle means, at least one of said flexible means having a portion extending in the same general direction as said first axis through said opening in said bearing means and having another continuous portion extending into said receptacle means.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: each of said receptacle means comprises a generally similarly shaped box-like means each having straight sides and each having inner and outer ends, at least one device of one kind extending from said outer end of one receptacle means and at least one device of another kind extending from said outer end of said other receptacle means,   said connecting means, respectively, engaging said inner ends of said receptacle means substantially in the mid-plane between said sides of each receptacle means to enable a side of one receptacle means to be positioned in contact with a corresponding side of the other receptacle means.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus as in claim 15 wherein: said support means comprises first hollow arm means extending generally in a first plane to which said first axis is substantially perpendicular, said flexible mans extending through said hollow arm means.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus as in claim 16 wherein: first hollow arm means and bearing means supporting said link means for rotation on said arm means about said first axis, said bearing means having an opening coincident with said first axis,   said inner ends of said receptacle means each having an opening,   a plurality of elongated flexible means extending through said first arm means and through said opening in said bearing means and at least one of said flexible means extending in one direction along said link means into a said opening in one said inner receptacle end and at least another of said flexible means extending in another direction along said link means and into said opening in the other said inner receptacle end.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus as in claim 16 including: arm means comprising members which are extensible and contractible relative to each other, one of said members being pivotally connected to said first hollow arm means for swinging in a plane generally parallel to the plane in which said receptacles pivot, and   tray means supported on aother of said arm means members.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus as in claim 16 including: tray means for extending between said box-like receptacles when said receptacles are pivoted to a predetermined angle of separation between them, and   means for attaching said tray means to at least one of said receptacle means to thereby support said tray means.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said tray means is pivotally supported on said member. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as in claim 20 wherein: said tray means has opposite margins for being disposed on said receptacle means, respectively, said margins each having at least one hole, and   pin means projecting from said receptacle means, respectively, for engaging in the holes in said margins of said tray means.